Berkeley, Calif.—Southern California invader St Anthony made his stakes debut a winning one in the $75,000 Alcatraz Stakes for 3-year-old turf horses on Sunday afternoon at Golden Gate Fields. He was ridden to victory in the one-mile route race by jockey Pedro Terrero.
Sent off at odds of 5-2 in the field of seven, St Anthony sat in midfield and saved ground on both turns before cutting the corner into the stretch. Searching for racing room in midstretch, Terrero guided St Anthony to the outside of horses, where shortly thereafter the 3-year-old gelding responded with a ferocious final sixteenth of a mile rally on the grandstand side. He flew past his competition in the final 20 yards and hit the wire three-quarters of a length ahead of Highland Ghost, who set the pace and ran a valiant race in defeat. Chief Wild Eagle finished third followed by 8-5 race favorite Boise, Meetmeattheclub, Trip to Spain and Will Is Chill.
St Anthony completed the one mile over firm turf in 1:37.35 seconds. St Anthony returned $7.00 to win, $3.60 to place, and $2.60 to show. Runner up finisher Highland Ghost paid the same amount for place and show while Chief Wild Eagle paid $3.60 to show.
St Anthony, a son of Noble Mission out of the stakes winning Invincible Spirit mare Amnesia, was bred in Kentucky by owner Alice Bamford. St Anthony is conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Neil Drysdale, who also trained dam Amnesia when she won the Wine Country Stakes on turf at Santa Rosa in 2014. The Alcatraz Stakes victory by St Anthony improved his lifetime record to 2 wins from 5 lifetime starts, with career earnings of $73,040.
Live racing at Golden Gate Fields resumes on Monday with a Memorial Day live-race program. First post is 1:52 PM PT. The signature race of the day is the $100,000 All American Stakes for 3-year-olds and upward at one mile on the Tapeta main track. A full field of 10 with one also eligible is entered to compete.
Golden Gate Fields Press Release
Photo: Vassar Photography
